Saturday morning thoughts, February 21, 2009...Blake and Jean

Yesterday:
What a great day! I received a piece of email from Gary and Susie (Chastain) Hancock in Lorenzo. I noticed they had sent it to "Blake and Jean." I did a little work and got re-connected with old friends Blake and Jean (House) Wilson. They lived in Victoria for years where Blake built a really successful career in insurance sales and management. Jean was one of the busiest and most effective church musicians in Victoria. They've retired now and are living near Tyler. The Wilsons came through Decatur yesterday on their way to Wichita Falls. Jean is accompanying (piano) their 13 year old grandson this morning as he plays a cello solo for UIL competition. We sat in a downtown restaurant and visited. I sang for their wedding when I was 12 or 13 (I think) and have visited once in all those years. What a blessing to find these old friends!

We were in the restaurant catching up when a Decatur friend of mine with Lorenzo roots came in. Wayne Alexander, a retired dairyman, lived in Lorenzo when he was a child. He still remembers a lot of names and still treasures his old friendship with Walter Brown.

Random Thoughts on Thursday Evening, February 12, 2008

I wrote and got permission from Gloria Gray Humphreys to put this sweet note on the blog. Read and enjoy. I'd be proud to post any grandbaby story that you deem worthy to send to me. So send 'em!!

My granddaughter, Bryn, and her mom, Donice, were having a discussion.

Bryn asked, "Are we out of money because the market crashed?" (She is five, by the way.)

Her mom responded, "No, not out of money. We are just trying to be careful and make every dollar count so that we can take good care of our family for a long time so you don't need to worry. But if you ever do start worrying just remember that God takes care of the puppies, kitties, bunnies, horses, cows and all of the other animals. He does a really good job taking care of them, too. If he takes such good care of them, He will surely take good care of us."

Bryn looked thoughtful and then asked, "He's our Father, isn't He?"

Donice said, "Yes, our Heavenly Father."

Bryn asked, "Then does that make Jesus our Heavenly Brother?"

Gloria Humphreys

P. O. Box 2352

Brownwood, TX 76804

Regarding other "random thoughts":

• We Joiners are enthralled with Facebook! We've found friends from all over whom we've met in the last 40 years. Finding old coaches, long-lost friends, long-lost relatives, friends-of-friends, and children of friends has been like an Easter egg hunt. If you're not on Facebook, give it a look-see.
• Julie and Clint welcomed Caleb Lee Hammer into the world two weeks ago. God is good.
• I just finished talking to Mother on the phone for over an hour. We talked and talked about things and people and events from many years ago. Her memory of those things is much better than mine. We talked about the houses in which people lived (she gave directions to the place). We talked about who is buried where in the Lorenzo cemetery (she knows who is buried where). We talked about long-gone relatives whose names and stories, to me, have become jumbled. Not to her. She knows and she knows she knows. I asked her if she remembered being in the hospital a few weeks ago. She doesn't remember. I've decided to guide our future conversations to areas in which she excels. I asked her if she gets frustrated when she can't remember. She said, "Yes." I decided then to steer future conversations toward her early years in Oklahoma, her relatives in East Texas, the family reunions in Naples, and other areas in which her memory is still dependable.
• We have way too many photos of our new Caleb. You'll probably get bored before seeing them all, but see what you think of this young American when you click here.
• Jo doesn't like my bandanas. I have a lot of white handkerchiefs and carry them most of the time when I'm wearing a suit. But when I'm wearing boots and jeans, a bandana seems to fit the bill. I don't think I've ever been in a situation requiring a clean rag that couldn't be met by a red (or blue) bandana.
• I went to Wal-Mart this afternoon. Came home with a surprise for Jo. I bought a Wal-Mart pizza. I won't do that again! I've decided that buying chicken at Wal-Mart is safer than buying pizza at Wal-Mart.
• I have Wise County friends whose new passion is hunting/trapping feral hogs. Haven't wondered until today: Are there any feral hogs in the Lorenzo area? I'm guessing not.

Need to go for now. Hope all is well where you are.